17th May, 2015
Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure on Sunday in Lafia secured a point against hosts Nasarawa United FC in a 1-1 draw which ended with acrimony.
NAN reports that the 2014/2015 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) week nine encounter at the Lafia Township Stadium was trailed by discontent.
This was after the visitors had a goal disallowed by the referee.
NAN reports that the first 25 minutes of the encounter saw both teams trying hard to break each other’s defence but failing in the process.
However, in the 28th minute, Sunshine Stars got a breakthrough through Dayo Ojo who sprinted past the opposition defence and crossed to Edunma Kingsley to score.
But his goal was disallowed by the centre referee after the assistant referee raised his flag for an offside infringement.
Nasarawa United players seemed to have found their rhythm after this, and started causing problems for the Sunshine Stars’ back four, but the away team withstood their pressure.
They finally broke through in the 41st minute after Ugochukwu Leonard was brought down by a Sunshine Stars defender in the penalty area and the referee subsequently awarded a penalty kick.
Sunshine Stars players and coaching crew disagreed with this, and the Sunshine Stars players left the pitch for three minutes.
After the return of normalcy, Sogbeso Seun scored from the penalty spot to put the home side ahead.
After the break, NAN reports that the visiting team put on an improved performance and were rewarded with an equaliser in the 64th minute.
This was after Kingsley capitalised on a misjudgement by the Nasarawa United defence to slot home from close range.
NAN reports that in the closing stages of the game, there was a late frenzy for a winning goal from the home side.
But brilliant saves from Sunshine Stars’ goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa ensured that the boys from Akure returned home with a point.
In an interview with NAN, Kennedy Boboye, the Head Coach of Sunshine Stars, praised his boys for their efforts.
But he blasted the centre referee for cancelling an early goal scored by his team in the first half.
“It is absolute rubbish. I don’t know how they can still allow the man to officiate in the Nigerian Premier League. The goal scored in the first half was a clean goal.
“I don’t see how he can deny a goal like that.
“Also, the two teams didn’t play well because of the pitch,” he said.